Convertible stroller/shopping cart

ABSTRACT

A convertible stroller and shopping vehicle having a stroller portion and a shopping vehicle portion. The stroller portion includes a seat which is movable from a deployed position to a stowed position. In the deployed position, the invention is used as a stroller. The shopping vehicle portion includes a collapsible receptacle that can be oriented in one of two orientations. In an open orientation, the receptacle creates a shopping cart while in a collapsed orientation the invention can be used to transport bulk materials.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. pat. application Ser. No.09/594,315, filed Jun. 15, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,170,854.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to shopping carts and children's strollers, andin particular to a stroller which may easily and quickly be convertedfrom a stroller into either a shopping cart or a carrier for largeitems.

Convertible strollers have been developed in the past, as explained inU.S. Pat. No. 5,544,904, the disclosure of which is incorporated hereinby reference. As explained in the '904 patent, strollers of the natureof the invention of the present application are generally of substantialconstruction and are typically provided by department stores, shoppingmalls and the like as a convenience for their customers during shopping.

The convertible stroller of the '904 patent, however, suffers onedisadvantage. Since the seat is fixed in place, the size of the shoppingcart, when the conversion to shopping is effected, is generallyconstrained by the size of the seat, although the shopping cart portionobviously extends well above and beyond the seat, as well. Also, becausethe seat is fixed in place, it is difficult for large, bulky items, suchas boxes, to be transported with any ease. There is therefore the needfor an improved version of the convertible stroller of the '904 patent,which is more versatile.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a readily usable and convenient convertiblestroller and shopping vehicle combination. It includes a strollerportion and a shopping vehicle portion. The stroller portion includes aframe supported by a plurality of wheels and a seat secured to theframe. The seat is moveable from a deployed position to a stowedposition, with the stowed position being displaced from the deployedposition. A handle assembly is provided, secured to the frame andincludes a handle for the device which is located rearwardly of the seatwhen the seat is in the deployed position. The shopping vehicle portionincludes a collapsible receptacle and a pivotal bar, with the receptaclebeing secured to and moveable with movement of the pivotal bar. Theshopping vehicle portion also includes a receptacle support. Thecollapsible receptacle is moveable between an expanded position with thepivotal bar pivoted away from the handle assembly and with thecollapsible receptacle in an open orientation above the receptaclesupport, and a collapsed position with the pivotal bar lying proximatethe handle assembly and with the collapsible receptacle in a collapsedorientation located rearwardly of the seat when the seat is in thedeployed position.

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention, the collapsiblereceptacle comprises an open mesh bag. A second receptacle, also in theform of an open mesh bag, can be secured to and suspended from thehandle assembly.

The receptacle support comprises a rigid platform which is secured tothe frame. The platform is located beneath, and supports, the seat whenthe seat is in the deployed position. It also supports the collapsiblereceptacle when it is in the expanded position.

Preferably, the seat is mounted so that it is pivotal from the deployedposition to the stowed position. In the deployed position, the inventionis used as a stroller. When the seat is in the stowed position, thereceptacle can be moved to the expanded position so that the inventionis used as a shopping cart. Alternatively, the receptacle can be left inthe collapsed position, and with the seat remaining in the stowedposition, the platform can transport relatively large articles withease.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in greater detail in the followingdescription of an example embodying the best mode of the invention,taken in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a convertible stroller and shoppingvehicle according to the invention, with all mesh receptacles removed toillustrate detail, and with the seat in the deployed position,

FIG. 2 is an illustration similar to FIG. 1, but with the seat pivotedto the stowed orientation, and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the convertible stroller and shoppingvehicle according to the invention in the shopping cart position, withboth mesh bags in place, and with the mesh bag of the collapsiblereceptacle being in the open orientation above the support platform.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EXAMPLE EMBODYING THE BEST MODE OF THE INVENTION

A convertible stroller and shopping vehicle according to the inventionis generally designated at 10 in the drawing figures. The strollerportion of the invention includes a series of frame members 12, 14 and16 which may be joined in any conventional fashion, and which arepreferably formed of metal or the like for strength and durability. Whenthe frame members 12 through 16 are appropriately joined, they form arigid frame for the convertible stroller and shopping vehicle 10.

A receptacle support, in the form of a rigid platform 18, is secured tothe frame members 12 through 16, again in any conventional fashion. Asbest illustrated in FIG. 2, the platform 18 is generally flat, and isalso formed of a suitably rigid material, such as metal.

The frame member 12 is generally U-shaped, and supports a pair ofopposite large, fixed wheels 20 and 22. The wheel 20 and 22 are mountedfor rotation about respective axles, which may be conventional and aretherefore not illustrated in detail.

The frame member 16 curves downwardly and is secured to a foot plate 24.A pair of smaller, caster wheels 26 and 28 are pivotally secured to theunderside of the foot plate 24 so that the convertible stroller andshopping vehicle 10 can be easily steered in whatever direction isdesired during use.

A handle assembly 30 extends upwardly from the platform 18. The handleassembly 30 preferably is composed of opposite tubular members 32 and 34which extend beneath, and are secured to the underside of, the platform18. The tubular members extend to a transverse handle 36 which can be anintegral extension of the tubular members 32 and 34, or a separatemember secured thereto. The handle 36 can be covered with a grip 38 forcomfort and facilitating use of the convertible stroller and shoppingvehicle 10.

A seat 40, preferably molded from plastic, is positioned above theplatform 18. The seat 40 includes a pair of brackets 42 and 44 fitted ona cross bar 46 extending between the tubular members 32 and 34. Thebrackets 42 and 44 permit pivoting of the seat 40 from a deployedposition shown in FIG. 1 to a stowed position, displaced from thedeployed position, shown in FIG. 2.

A pivotal bar 48 is pivotally pinned to the opposite tubular members 32and 34. The bar is displacable from a generally upright orientationshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the bar is generally coextensive withthe tubular members 32 and 34 to a forwardly deployed position, as shownin FIG. 3, for providing support in the shopping cart orientation.

As shown in FIG. 3, a collapsible receptacle 50 is suspended from thepivotal bar 48. The receptacle 50 is formed of a mesh bag topped by afabric collar 52. The collar 52 is secured to the pivotal bar 48 byopposite fabric sleeves 54 (only one side shown in FIG. 3). A fabrichanging support 56 is secured about the pivotal bar 48 to complete theattachment of the collapsible receptacle 50 to the pivotal bar 48.

An auxiliary receptacle 58, also composed of a mesh bag, is secured tothe handle 36 by means of fabric hanging supports 60 and 62. Theauxiliary receptacle 58 can be used whether the invention is employed asa stroller, a shopping cart, or a transporting vehicle.

The invention is used as a stroller in the orientation illustrated inFIG. 1. While the collapsible receptacle 50 and the auxiliary receptacle58 are not illustrated, in the orientation shown in FIG. 1, the pivotalbar 48 is in the upright orientation, collapsing the receptacle 50 toprecisely the orientation shown in FIG. 3 of incorporated U.S. Pat. No.5,544,904. The receptacle 50 is thus in a collapsed orientation locatedrearwardly of the seat 40, and the convertible stroller and shoppingvehicle 10 can be used as a stroller.

When it is desired to use the convertible stroller and shopping vehicle10 to transport bulky items, such as boxes, the seat 40 can be pivotedto the stowed position illustrated in FIG. 2, fully exposing theplatform 18. The pivotal bar 48 remains in the upright orientation, andthe receptacle 50 therefore remains collapsed.

When a shopping cart function is desired, the pivotal bar 48 is pivotedto the orientation shown in FIG. 3, so that the collapsible receptacle50 is deployed over the rigid platform 18. Because the seat 40 remainsin the stowed position shown in FIG. 2, the receptacle 50 provides alarge capacity, with both the collapsible receptacle 50 and theauxiliary receptacle 58 being used for carrying of articles.

The invention therefore serves three functions, as a stroller (FIG. 1),a transporting vehicle for boxes and other large items (FIG. 2) and ashopping cart (FIG. 3). Various changes can be made to the inventionwithout departing from the spirit thereof or scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A convertible stroller and shopping vehicle,comprising a. a frame supported by a plurality of wheels at four cornersthereof, b. a generally horizontal support secured to said frame suchthat at least one side of support is accessible for loading of itemshorizontally onto said support, c. a stroller orientation and atransport orientation, d. said stroller orientation including a seatsecured above said support in a seat-deployed position, e. saidtransport orientation including said support with said seat moved to aseat-stowed position, exposing at least a portion of said support, f. ahandle assembly secured to said frame and including a handle locatedrearwardly of said seat when in the seat-deployed position, and g. acollapsible receptacle and a pivotal bar secured to said frame, saidreceptacle being secured to and moveable with movement of said pivotalbar.
 2. A convertible stroller and shopping vehicle according to claim 1in which said receptacle is moveable between an expanded position withsaid pivotal bar pivoted away from said handle assembly and with saidreceptacle in an open orientation above said support, and a collapsedposition with said pivotal bar lying proximate said handle assembly andwith said receptacle located rearwardly of said seat when in theseat-deployed position.
 3. A convertible stroller and shopping vehicleaccording to claim 1 in which said support is located beneath, andsupports, said seat in the seat-deployed position.
 4. A convertiblestroller and shopping vehicle according to claim 1 in which said seat ispivotal from the seat-deployed position to the seat-stowed position. 5.A convertible stroller and shopping vehicle according to claim 1including a receptacle secured to said handle assembly.
 6. A convertiblestroller and shopping vehicle according to claim 5 in which saidreceptacle comprises an open mesh bag.